Seat or bench



(N0 Model.)

S.K.HBLMBR.

SEAT 0R BENCH.

NCL 589,529. Patented Sept. 7,1897.

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wgasszs PATENT EEicE.

SIMON KENTON HELMER, OF ASPEN, COLORADO.

SEAT on BENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 589,529, dated September 7, 1897.

Serial No. 627,878, (No model.)

To whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, SIMON KENTON I-IELMER, a citizen of the United States, residing` at Aspen, in the county of Pitkin and State of Colorado, have invented a nenr and useful Seat or Bench, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to certain improvements in seats or benches, and especially in that class of such devices as are adapted to be ccxnpactly folded when not required for use; and the object of the invention is to provide a bench or seat of a simple and inexpensive nature which shall be strong and durable and at the same time light and attractive in appearance and which shall be capable of being folded, so as to take up a small space and to render the improved device more convenient for handling and transporting.

The invention consists in a bench or seat or equivalent device having a pivotally-mounted leg, a brace connected to the leg and having a sliding engagement with the bench or other article, and a gravity-latch to engage the brace and hold the same against movement when the leg is in a position to support the article.

The invention also contemplates certain novel features of the construction, combination, and arrangement of thevarious parts of the improved bench or seat, whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is made simpler, cheaper, and otherwise better adapted and more convenient for use, all as Will be hereinafter fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully dened in the claim.

In order that my improvements may be the better understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawings a folding bench or seat constructed according to my invention, in Which- Figure l. is a perspective view showing the improved seat or bench unfolded and in position for use, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the device in folded position. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the under side of the improved chair, showing the leg and its bracing devices. Fig. et is a fragmentary vertical section in the plane indicated by the line a d in Fig. 3.

in the views, l indicates the seat portion of the improved bench, which is, as shown, of an elongated form, said seat portion l being upholstered upon its upper face and provided at opposite ends with arms 2, as clearly shown. 3 indicates the back of the seat or bench, which is upholstered also upon its front face and is hinged at its lower part to the rear edge of the seat portion l, as will be readily understood.

The scat or bench is provided at opposite ends With braces for supporting the back in its raised position, as shown in Fig. l, said braces being each formed of two links 5, pivotally connected and provided with locking devices for locking them together When in line with each other, the opposite ends of the links being pivoted to the seat portion l and back 3 of the bench.

The bench or seat is provided at opposite ends with supporting-legs G, connected thereto by means of hinges 7 and adapted to be folded toward each other, as shown in Fig. 2, iiat against the under side of the bench. In the bottom of the bench, as shown in Fig. 4, is formed a recess 8, extending longitudinally in the bottom of the seat, Which recess is adapted to be closed by a face-plate El, secured to the under side of the bench-bottoni over the said recess and provided With a slot l0, formed in it parallel to and connecting with the recess S and adapted for the passage of one end of a brace ll, the outer end of which is coupled to the leg 6, as shown in Figs. 23 and e. v A

In the recess S is arranged a guide-bar 12, which extends longitudinally in the recess and is adapted to guide the end of the brace 1l, said brace being provided inside the recess with a bent end 13 to engage said guidebar and slide along the same. ln the recess S is pivoted, as shown at le, a latch or dog, one end of which is weighted and is adapted by gravity to hold the opposite shorter end 1G of the dog in the path of the bent end 13 of the brace ll, so that when the leg of the bench or seat is swung pivotally the brace ll will be caused to slide along the guide-bar 12, and the bent end of saidbrace will be drawn over the short end 1G of the dog or latch to the position shown in Fig. 4. When the parts are in this position, the Weighted end l5 of the dog or latch will act to throw the shorter IOC) end thereof in the path of the bent end 13 of the brace 11, so as to securely lock said brace against movement and hold the leg of thebench in position.

If desired, the back S of the bench or seat may be constructed With a series of hooks 17, pivotally mounted on said back and arranged to fold into recesses formed in the same, rlhese hooks may be used for hanging hats or other articles on the back of the bench, and when the seat or bench is to be folded the hooks 17 may be folded in their recesses, so as not to project from the back.

XVhen it is desired to fold up the seat or bench, the spring dogs or bolts with which the links 5 of the braces at the end of the bench or seat are provided are disengaged, so as to permit the back 3 to be folded down upon the seat portion 1 of the bench, as shown in Fig. 2. The parts may be held in this position in any desired way-as, .for example, by means of a strap 1S, secured to the under side of the seat portion 1 and arranged to engage a pin or button .19 on the rear surface of the back 8 of the bench.

Vhen the back has been folded upon the seat, as shown in Fig. 2, the bench may, if desired, be turned over7 so as to rest upon its back portion, and this movement will cause the Weighted end l5 of the dog in the recess S to move in the opposite direction, so as to disengage the short end 1U of the dog from the bent end 13 of the brace 11, so that the leg G may be folded flat against the under side of the seat portion 1.

From the above descriptionit will bc seen that the improved bench or seat is of an ex tremely simple and inexpensive nature, and is especially Well adapted for use in churches and halls, since it is adapted to be compactly folded when not required for use, so that it may be conveniently handled, and it will be obvious from the above description that the improved bench or seat is capable of some modification Without material departure from its principles and spirit, and for this reason I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise form and arrangement or the parts herein set forth.

I'Iavin g thus described my invention. l claim i The combination of a seat or equivalent article, provided with a recess, a guide-bar disposed longitudinally of the recess, a hinged leg supporting the seat, a brace connected at one end to the leg and having its other end bent at an angle and sliding on the guide-bar. and an automatically operating latch arranged Wthin the recess of the seat and pivoted near one end, its shorter arm being bent upward and arranged adjacent to the guidebar and located in the path of the brace in position to be engaged by the same, the longer arm of the latch being adapted to maintain the shorter arm in operative position, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SIMON KENToN ucraina /vitiiesses:

WM. DONOVAN, M. B. BROWN. 

